ONCE UPON A TIME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19840, 14 May 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

ONCE UPON A TIME

MARCUS SAMUEL’S GOOD LONG LIFE. THE POOR BOY WHO GREW RICH IN WELL-DOING. Once there was a boy in East London who had to work hard to make a living. Presently he started in a small way of business, selling painted shells in a little shop in Houndsditch. His name was Marcus Samuel. Anyone passing by would have thought that that was the least important of any business dwelling in London. It was itself the shell of a great enterprise, the four walls that housed a young man of indomitable will and perseverance. People passing by soon saw that Marcus had other things in his window. The painted shells made room for curios and knick-knacks, then for general produce, then for sacks of rice. The day came when they looked for Marcus and he was no longer there. He had gone on a journey to Japan. Shipping Oil From Russia. Now he was dreaming of the possibilities of trade in petroleum. With secret joy and fear in his heart, Marcus Samuel began to ship oil from Russia to the Far East. It was a modest enterprise. His vessels were as insignificant among the groat merchant traders as the little shell shop had been among the East End warehouses . People said young Samuel was a fool, that shipping oil was a silly business, as the nature of the cargo made it impossible to fill the holds on the return journey with ordinary merchandise. Marcus tried cleaning out the hull with steam, and the device succeeded. The enterprising man from Houndsditch knew now that he was in the way of great things, that a vast business could be opened up. But he must have financial backing. The Rothschilds helped, and Marcus became the head of a great trading firm. Building a Vast Business. In 1897, after long thought and much talk between some, of the shrewdest business men of their day, an amalgamation took place between several firms trading with the East. The result was the famous Shell Transport Company. If anyone asked why this name was given Marcus Samuel pointed to a little shop in Houndsditch. In the meantime Marcus Samuel had been able to help the Government with the salvage of a Government ship, the Victorious, and the result was that the seller of shells became Sir Marcus Samuel. The years rolled by, the Shell Company amalgamated with a still more powerful firm, and the result was a vast organisation dealing with the producing, relining, and distributing of oil. When the ’war broke out the British Government woke up to the value of this great industry. Owing to its ramifications in all parts of the Earth it could supply the Government with petroleum in any form at any war base. Sir Marcus worked like a giant. Lord Mayor of London. In the meantime he had begun municipal work in London, and in .1902 he was Lord Mayor of London. Nineteen years after he was made a baron; a few years more saw him a viscount. He was now' Lord Bearsted. He was a greet man to the end. He was never ashamed of the little shell shop in Houndsditch, Lord Barstcd was always young Marcus Samuel. A week or two ago his great life ended, after 73 years of dogged, hard work, and tfiere is this touching fact to be set down—that he passed away a few hours after the death of his wife, who had worked with him and hoped with him and been proud of him for nearly fifty years. They were buried side by side upon their wedding-day.